Mica splitting machine



Sept' 14, 1943- E. P. COOPER ET A1. 2,329,593

MICA SPLITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. '13, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l Invenfons.-

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sept. 14, 1943.

Patented Sept. 14, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MICA SPLITTIN G MACHINE Edward P. Cooper, Newton, and Frank N.

Lo Presti, Wal

Application February 13, 1942, Serial No. 430,788

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a mica splitting machine and method wherein the multi-layer mica sheets are ilexed abruptly and are simultaneously subjected to a rubbing action throughout their areas to cause separation of the layers of which they are composed. This ilexing and rubbing is accomplished by upper and lower, relatively movable, iexible members between which the mica sheets are passed, and these members are flexed .to cause the desired bending of the mica sheets during the rubbing action caused by their relative sliding motion. The lower, flexible member is in the nature of an endless, travelling belt to support and convey the mica, while the upper, flexible member is a longitudinally fixed belt which, by engagement with the entire areas of the upper surfaces of the mica sheets, tends to resist forward movement of the sheets by the travelling belt. Hence, the drag imposed by the fixed upper belt on the entire areas of the upper layers removes upper layers of the mica from lower layers contacting throughout their lower areas with and carried along by the travelling, lower belt. This is a recurrent action which takes place over and over again throughout the lengthwise extent of the upper, xed belt. So also, the bending of the mica sheets between the upper xed belt and the lower, travelling belt is recurrent, not only because there are several of the bending instrumentalities at dilerent points in the length of the belts, but because the bending instrumentalities are moved rapidly to and fro lengthwise of the belts while the rubbing action is taking place due 'to the lower belt advancing with relation to the upper belt. While these are the principal characteristics of the machine there are others which are more or less incidental thereto, and which will appear during the course of the following description of one specific embodiment of the invention whose scope will be pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan of a mica splitting machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of some of the parts shown in plan in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale on line 5 5. of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a plan of some of the parts shown in F1315;

tham, Mass.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 but showing a modified construction; and f Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on a much enlarged scale illustrating one set of the bending instrumentalities.

Referring to the drawings and to the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein by way of example, and having reference at first to Fig. 4, there is shown a conveyor herein conveying a lower, exible, endless belt I2 which is supported by rolls or drums I4 and I6 on the shafts I 8 and 20 to which power is applied by suitable mechanism, presently to be described, to cause the upper lead of the belt to travel toward the left as viewed in Fig. 4, proper tension of the belt being maintained by appropriate means such as idle rollers 22, 24 and 26. The mica sheets to be separated or split are supplied to the conveyor belt I2 as by preliminary conveyor belt 28 passing over a roller 3l) above the belt I2 and the drum I4.

A brake or drag element fixed, upper belt 32 in close proximity to the upper horizontal lead of the conveyor belt I 2, is held in fixed position, and its tension is adjusted by appropriate means such as those now to be described, reference still being had to Fig. 4. The' xed belt 32, at one end is passed through a slot 34 in a T-bar 3E, and above the slot is formed into a fold T-bar 44`and is wound about a tubular shaft 46 to which it is suitably secured, and the shaft is clamped by a slotted bracket 48 suitably adjustable as by being provided with a slot 50 to receive a clamping screw 52 extending therethrough.

It should now be evident that as the mica sheets are deposited on the conveyor belt I2, the upper lead of the latter, travelling toward the left, carries the mica sheets beneath the fixed belt 32 which by contact with the sheets imposes a drag tending to cause separation of the laminae much as a card is removed from the top of a pack by horizontal, sliding movement. This is supplemented and aided by simultaneously iiexing or bending the upper, fixed belt and the lower travelling belt by appropriate means such as those now to be described, reference being had to Fig. 2, in which it will be observed that both belts extend between upper and lower bars 54 and 56 which are constructed and arranged to cause deiection of the belts. In the present example, one bar, herein the upper bar 54, is in the nature of a channel -bar having two flanges 58 suitably rounded to engage the top of the upper, xed belt 32, and separated by a channel 60. while the lower bar 56 has a single flange 62 suitably rounded to engage the lower face of the lower travelling belt I2 and to force both belts into the channel 60", thus producing abrupt bends in the belts and in the mica sheets therebetween. This further tends to cause separation of the elastic laminae. There may be other pairs of the upper and lower bars 54 and 56 and in the present example there are two such pairs as shown, for example in Figs. 4 and 6.

The lower bars 56 are suitably supported (see Figs. 5 and 6) as by an underlying support 64 having one or more pairs of upstanding studs 66 which prevent horizontal displacement of the upper bars 54 and guide the latter vertically. Pressure of the upper bars downwardly toward the lower bars is suitably afforded as by.springs 68 encircling the studs 66 and adjustable as by nuts 10. The support 64 extends transversely of and is secured to frame members 12 and juts out on both sides of this main framework in the case of a double machine, or on only one side in the case of a single machine. There is some advantage in duplicating the hereinbefore described mechanism and arranging the duplicates on opposite sides of the main frame. In the case of a double machine, it is desirable to employ a modification shown in Fig. 7, in which the upper bars on opposite sides are connected by a rigid connection 14, and there are no studs 66 and springs 66 at the outer ends 'of the bars. This facilitates removal and replacement of the belts when worn. Otherwise, in the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the outer studs must first be removed, and this takes time.

While the belt deflecting bars might be maintained in xed position lengthwise of the belts, they are rendered more effective by vibrating them rapidly lengthwise of the belts as by the mechanism now to be described, reference being had to Fig. 2, in which it will be observed that the support 64 for the pairs of bars is secured to a horizontal frame 16 suspended by pairs of vertical links 18 pivoted at 80 to an overhead frame 82 and pivoted at 84 to the frame 16. A horizontal, reciprocatory movement is imparted to the frame 16 by appropriate mechanism such as links 64 connecting the same to crank-pins 86 on crank-disks 88 secured to a main-shaft 90 (see Fig. 1) having thereon tight and loose pulleys 92 and 94.

Returning now to Fig. 4, it will be observed that after the mica on the lower, travelling belt I2 leaves the upper, xed belt 32 it passes beneath a rapidly rotating, rubber-covered roller 96 driven in the direction of the adjacent arrow at a speed greater than that of the travelling belt |2 by appropriate mechanism such as upper and lower` sprocket wheels 98 and |00 connected by a chain |02 whose tension is maintained by an idler |04. The ratios of the gearing which drive the roller 96 are such that its surface speed is greater than that of the conveyor belt, and owing to this fact and owing also to its elastic, rubber-covered surface, the roller tends further to cause the separation of any remaining adhering layers of mica before the latter gravitates from the end of the conveyor belt as it turns on the drum I6.

The various shafts are connected to the main driving shaft 90 by appropriate mechanism such as that now to be described, reference being had to Figs. l and 2. Commencing with the main shaft 60, a sprocket wheel |06 secured to this shaft is connected by a chain |08 to a sprocket wheel I|0 secured to a jack-shaft ||2. Another sprocket wheel I|4 secured to this shaft is connected by a chain II6 to a sprocket wheel IIl secured to the hereinbefore described shaft 20 which drives the drum or roller I6. In case it is desirable to drive the other drum or roller I4 other than by the belt I2 which connects the drums, the shafts I8 and 20 are suitably connected as by a sprocket wheel |20 securedto the shaft I8 and connected by a chain |22 to a sprocket wheel |24 secured to the shaft 20.

AReturning now to the sprocket wheel 96 (see Fig. 4), the latter is suitably driven as by being secured to a shaft, |26 to which there is also secured a second sprocket wheel |28 connected by a chain |30 to a sprocket wheel |32 which is secured to a shaft |34 having also secured thereto a gear |36 meshing with and driven by a gear |38 secured to the jack-shaft I |2.

The general operation of the machine should be understood from the foregoing description, but will be reviewed briefly, reference being had to Fig. 4. The mica sheets to be split are deposited upon the lower, travelling belt and are carried by the latter beneath the upper, fixed belt which imposes a drag on the upper faces of the moving sheets and tends to separate the layers by a horizontal sliding movement, throughout the length of the fixed belt. Separation is aided by simultaneously bending the sheets abruptly by extending the upper, fixed belt and the lower, travelling belt between the pairs of upper and lower, deflecting bars which are being reciprocated rapidly lengthwise of the belts, thus greatly multiplying the bending operations. The now well-separated laminae now pass from beneath the fixed, upper belt and pass beneath the final rubbing roller where the rapid rubbing'action completes any incomplete separation, after which the now fully separated layers gravitate into a suitable receptacle.

Having thus described one embodiment of our invention, what we claim and desire by Letters Patent to secure is:

We claim:

1. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, upper and lower flexible members between which the mica is passed, I neans to flex said members to bend the mica therebetween, means to advance said lower member, and means to hold said upper member fixed in respect to the direction of said advance.

2. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, an endless travelling belt to support and convey the mica to be split, a longitudinally fixed belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said travelling belt, and means to flex both belts to bend the mica therebetween.

3. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, a support for the mica, a presser which presses the mica on said support, means to move said support to feed the mica, means to prevent said presser from advancing with said support, and means to cause flexing of the mica while advancing on said support.

4. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, an endless conveyor belt to support and convey the mica to be split, a longitudinally fixed belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said conveyor belt, said fixed belt terminating short of the discharge end of said conveyor belt and leaving a portion of the upper surface of the latter exposed, a roller contacting said exposed surface, and means to drive said roller so that its surface will travel in the same direction as said conveyor belt but at a greater speed.

5. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, an endless conveyor belt to support and convey the mica to be split, a longitudinally iixed belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said conveyor belt, said fixed belt terminating short of the discharge end of said conveyor belt and leaving a portion of the upper surface of the latter exposed, a roller contacting said exposed surface, means to drive said roller so that its surface will travel in the same direction as said conveyor belt but at a greater speed, belt deecting means arranged to deiiect said belts, and mechanism to move said belt deflecting means horizontally to and fro lengthwise of said belts.

6. A mica splitting machine comprising; in combination, upper and lower belts between which the mica is passed, belt defiecting means arranged to deflect said belts, said belt deflecting means including upper and lower, belt-engaging members which are unconnected at one pair of ends to permit the removal and replacement of said belts between said ends, and means connecting said members to press one toward the other.

7. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, an endless conveyor to support and convey the mica to be split, a longitudinally stationary belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said conveyor belt, means to hold one end of said stationary belt fixed, and means to hold the other end of said stationary belt fixed and to apply tension to said stationary belt.

8. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, an endless conveyor to support and convey the mica to be split, a longitudinally stationary belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said conveyor belt, two bars over which said stationary belt extends, and means to apply tension to said stationary belt.

9. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, an endless conveyor to support and convey the mica to be split, a longitudinally stationary. belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said conveyor belt, two bars provided with slots through which said stationary belt extends, means cooperating with one of said bars to hold one end of said stationary belt fixed, and means cooperating with the other end of said stationary belt to adjust and to maintain the tension of said stationary belt.

10.A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, an endless conveyor to support and convey the mica to be split, a, longitudinally stationary belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said conveyor belt, two bars provided with slots through which said stationary belt extends, means cooperating with one of said bars to hold one end of said stationary belt xed, and a shaft to which the other end of said stationary belt is xed and about which the same is wound.

11. A mica splitting machine comprising,in combination, an endless conveyor to support and convey the mica to be split, a longitudinally stationary belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said conveyor belt, two bars provided with slots through which said stationary belt extends, means cooperating with one of said bars to hold one end lof said stationary belt fixed, an anchorage for the other end of said stationary belt, and an adjustable bracket which supports said anchorage.

12. A mica splitting machine comprising, in combination, an endless conveyor to support and convey the mica to be split, a longitudinally stationary belt above and arranged to contact the mica on said conveyor belt, two bars provided with slots through which said stationary belt extends, means cooperating with one of said bars to hold one end of said stationary belt iixed, a shaft to which the other end of said stationary belt is fixed and about which the same is wound. and an adjustable bracket which supports said shaft.

13. The improvement in the art of separating the laminae of mica which comprises subjecting the mica to a rubbing action throughout the entire areas'of both faces of the mica tending to displace the laminae by relative sliding movement, and simultaneously subjecting the mica to a exing action.

14. In a machine for separating the laminae of mica, the combinationof rubbingiinstrumentalities which subject the mica to a rubbing action tending to displace the laminae by relative sliding movement, and flexing instrumentalities which subject the mica to a flexing action during said rubbing action.

15. In a machine for separating the laminae`l` of mica, the combination of rubbing instrumentalities which by simultaneous contact with the entire areas of both faces of the mica subject the mica to a rubbing action tending to displace the laminae by relative sliding movement, and flexing instrumentalities which subject the mica to a Iiexing action simultaneously with said rubbing action.

EDWARD P. COOPER.

FRANK N. LO PRESTI.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Y Patent Ne. 2,529,595. september 1LT, 1915'.

EDwARD P. CooPER,ET AL.v

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification,k

of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page I, second column, line 9, for the word "conveying" read -comprising; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the seme may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of November, A. D. 1911.5.

Henry 'van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Conuniasioner of Patents. 

